Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Kioko: The Ripple Effect

Last year, God laid Kioko on our hearts! He is in The James 1:27 sponsorship program and his family desperately needed a new home!

Their home was literally falling apart and his mother was in poor health. He was so stressed about his home situation that it was difficult for him to concentrate and do well in school!

Of course, because we are moms, ourselves, that did not sit well with us knowing a boy couldn't do well in school because he was so worried about his mama in his dilapidated old house while he was away! We were compelled to join God and raise money through The Orange Bird Shop to help them out!

Through the sales from the shop and with the help of our friend, Kelly, who also raised money to help us meet our goal, we were able to donate all the money for the supplies for his new home! The James 1:27 folks got to work and now his family is moved in and are able to move on to bigger and better things in life!

We received this letter from Kioko. (If you shopped with us, you are included in that "to whom I know" part! How about that??!!)

As usual, we only see a part of the plan that God has in this work. We saw a house that needed fixing but He was also looking after another young man that we didn't even know about! Kioko's brother, Vincent, was part of the ripple effect! The following is part of an email that we received. Not only did Kioko benefit from a new home, but so did his siblings and mother!! The James 1:27 Project is about bringing hope to the hopeless and now Vincent has hope because of the good work the Project is doing in Machakos!!

From a distance
Vincent looked very withdrawn but our visit on this Saturday would make all the
difference in his life. James 1:27 had at the time only had supported his brother Kioko. Having dropped out of school because he couldn’t afford
school fees, he had very few words to say. Hopelessness and despair was written
all over his face. Neither the arrival of the James team meant anything for
him. James 1:27 project came through for him and paid his school fees and he
has since resumed school.

During
a visit by the James 1:27 team to the school, the school management is full of
praise for a child who most times was lost in thoughts and could hardly
concentrate in school, a boy who was constantly out school. He has since become a very hardworking boy,
very committed to the studies and become an inspiration to the younger boys who
are in similar situation.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.